Published: Friday, August 26, 2005 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, August 25, 2005 at 11:00 p.m.

Northridge coach Mike Smith discusses a call with an official during last year's game against Tuscaloosa County.

Staff photo | Jason Getz

TCHS, 11-2 last season and ranked No. 7 in the Class 6A poll, travels to meet the Jaguars at 7.

Northridge went 4-7 in only its second year as a school and made the Class 5A playoffs in its first year of eligibility.

The Jaguars don't have to play TCHS, but coach Mike Smith said it's part of his plan for building the program.

"I consider them a rival, but they probably don't consider us a rival," Smith said. "Anybody that you run into in the mall or in a restaurant, you've got to consider them a rival.

"There are two reasons why you want to play great competition. It's a measuring stick to see how much you've improved and how close you are to being an upper-echelon team. The other reason is to send a message to your team that you want to be this way. You cannot be the best if you don't play the best."

TCHS coach Robert Higginbotham referred to Northridge as a "cross-town" rival.

"We're approaching it like any other game, and, of course, it's the first game," Higginbotham said. "They're eventually going to be a huge rival. It's my understanding that they'll move up to 6A next year and will probably be in the same region with us.

"When you play a cross-town rival, it gets bigger and bigger every year. And you add in the fact that it's the first game. It's important for everyone to get off to a good start."

The Jaguars didn't participate in a jamboree last week, but Higginbotham's Wildcats played a half against No. 2-ranked Prattville and a half against No. 6 Opelika.

Higginbotham said the first team went 20 plays and the second team had 12 plays.

"I think we learned quite a bit from it," Higginbotham said. "The biggest thing is we've got a long way to go. We were playing the best competition in the state, and that's certainly a good yardstick.

"You could always use more speed on the defensive side, but the main thing I'd like to see is us playing together more."

TCHS has three of four starters returning in the defensive secondary -- Reginald McMiller, LeBrian Jackson and Hampton Gray.

Deon Williams, an All-State defensive back last season, will start at quarterback.

Higginbotham said the 5-foot-10 Williams is being recruited as a defensive back.

"He has the athletic ability, and he probably would be recruited as a quarterback if he was a couple of inches taller," Higginbotham said. "He's looked real good throwing the ball. I don't think we're going to miss a beat there."

Jonathan Childs is expected to be the main running back.

"We're probably going to play more with one back than with two," Higginbotham said. "We've got another running back in Deon."

Marvin Sanford, who could have started at guard or tackle, won't be able to play. Higginbotham said Sanford will be out for two or three weeks after undergoing knee surgery last Saturday.

Smith said the playoff appearance provided a boost for his program.

"I'm real excited about our team and our chances this season," Smith said. "We're a young football team, and that bodes well for the future. Of course, everybody is looking at what you're doing right now.

"I feel like the program is progressing. More kids are interested in it, and expectations are automatically raised. What concerns me is that we had great senior leadership last year. We can't just ride on their coattails. We've got to establish a new regime of leadership."

Chase Sprayberry will start at quarterback for the Jaguars. Sprayberry, who has been a wingback and running back, played quarterback in 2003, when Ingram Voltz was hurt. Voltz started last season but graduated.

"Chase has been a utility man for us," Smith said. "When something was broke, we put him in there to fix it. But he never quit taking his reps at quarterback."

Smith said the Jaguars need standout performances from running back and safety Cortney Anderson, linebacker and fullback Jermaine Robinson and guard and linebacker Brandon Wilson.

TCHS will operate with a spread offense that Higginbotham installed last season.

"When you've got great talent and great coaching, whatever they do offensively is always going to cause mismatches for somebody somewhere," Smith said.

Higginbotham said he expects Northridge to emphasize its running game with a veer attack.

"When you're playing against option football, you've got to be assignment conscious," Higginbothsam said. "Everybody's got to know who their responsibility is.

"I wouldn't think they would change a lot from last year. You just never know in an opening game."

Reach Andrew Carroll at andrew.carroll@tuscaloosanews.com or at (205) 722-0223.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Tuscalosa County faces Northridge tonight in a game that doesn't have playoff implications, but it might in the future.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>TCHS, 11-2 last season and ranked No. 7 in the Class 6A poll, travels to meet the Jaguars at 7.</p><p>Northridge went 4-7 in only its second year as a school and made the Class 5A playoffs in its first year of eligibility.</p><p>The Jaguars don't have to play TCHS, but coach Mike Smith said it's part of his plan for building the program.</p><p>"I consider them a rival, but they probably don't consider us a rival," Smith said. "Anybody that you run into in the mall or in a restaurant, you've got to consider them a rival.</p><p>"There are two reasons why you want to play great competition. It's a measuring stick to see how much you've improved and how close you are to being an upper-echelon team. The other reason is to send a message to your team that you want to be this way. You cannot be the best if you don't play the best."</p><p>TCHS coach Robert Higginbotham referred to Northridge as a "cross-town" rival.</p><p>"We're approaching it like any other game, and, of course, it's the first game," Higginbotham said. "They're eventually going to be a huge rival. It's my understanding that they'll move up to 6A next year and will probably be in the same region with us.</p><p>"When you play a cross-town rival, it gets bigger and bigger every year. And you add in the fact that it's the first game. It's important for everyone to get off to a good start."</p><p>The Jaguars didn't participate in a jamboree last week, but Higginbotham's Wildcats played a half against No. 2-ranked Prattville and a half against No. 6 Opelika.</p><p>Higginbotham said the first team went 20 plays and the second team had 12 plays.</p><p>"I think we learned quite a bit from it," Higginbotham said. "The biggest thing is we've got a long way to go. We were playing the best competition in the state, and that's certainly a good yardstick.</p><p>"You could always use more speed on the defensive side, but the main thing I'd like to see is us playing together more."</p><p>TCHS has three of four starters returning in the defensive secondary -- Reginald McMiller, LeBrian Jackson and Hampton Gray.</p><p>Deon Williams, an All-State defensive back last season, will start at quarterback.</p><p>Higginbotham said the 5-foot-10 Williams is being recruited as a defensive back.</p><p>"He has the athletic ability, and he probably would be recruited as a quarterback if he was a couple of inches taller," Higginbotham said. "He's looked real good throwing the ball. I don't think we're going to miss a beat there."</p><p>Jonathan Childs is expected to be the main running back.</p><p>"We're probably going to play more with one back than with two," Higginbotham said. "We've got another running back in Deon."</p><p>Marvin Sanford, who could have started at guard or tackle, won't be able to play. Higginbotham said Sanford will be out for two or three weeks after undergoing knee surgery last Saturday.</p><p>Smith said the playoff appearance provided a boost for his program.</p><p>"I'm real excited about our team and our chances this season," Smith said. "We're a young football team, and that bodes well for the future. Of course, everybody is looking at what you're doing right now.</p><p>"I feel like the program is progressing. More kids are interested in it, and expectations are automatically raised. What concerns me is that we had great senior leadership last year. We can't just ride on their coattails. We've got to establish a new regime of leadership."</p><p>Chase Sprayberry will start at quarterback for the Jaguars. Sprayberry, who has been a wingback and running back, played quarterback in 2003, when Ingram Voltz was hurt. Voltz started last season but graduated.</p><p>"Chase has been a utility man for us," Smith said. "When something was broke, we put him in there to fix it. But he never quit taking his reps at quarterback."</p><p>Smith said the Jaguars need standout performances from running back and safety Cortney Anderson, linebacker and fullback Jermaine Robinson and guard and linebacker Brandon Wilson.</p><p>TCHS will operate with a spread offense that Higginbotham installed last season.</p><p>"When you've got great talent and great coaching, whatever they do offensively is always going to cause mismatches for somebody somewhere," Smith said.</p><p>Higginbotham said he expects Northridge to emphasize its running game with a veer attack.</p><p>"When you're playing against option football, you've got to be assignment conscious," Higginbothsam said. "Everybody's got to know who their responsibility is.</p><p>"I wouldn't think they would change a lot from last year. You just never know in an opening game."</p><p>Reach Andrew Carroll at andrew.carroll@tuscaloosanews.com or at (205) 722-0223.</p>